Blue Ridge groups present students with scholarships

Published: Friday, June 21, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 21, 2013 at 7:40 a.m.

Sparks Memorial Scholarship recipient named

The Henderson County Education Foundation Inc. has announced that Karen Fernandez, a recent graduate of Hendersonville High, is the recipient of the Connie and Ricky Sparks Memorial Scholarship for the 2013-14 academic year.

Fernandez will receive a $3,500 scholarship each year for four years, totaling $14,000, to attend Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, where she plans to pursue a nursing degree.

In November 2007, Connie Sparks and her son, Ricky Sparks, were killed during a home invasion. Soon after, Connie Sparks’ three remaining children — Brenda McCleerey, Jim Sparks and the Rev. David Sparks — started the scholarship program in their family members’ memory. Fernandez is the sixth scholarship recipient. All recipients are graduates of Hendersonville High, in honor of Ricky Sparks, whose favorite team was the Bearcats.

Carolinas Food Industry Council awards scholarship

Cari Youngblood of Fletcher was awarded the Everett and Trudy Suddreth Scholarship in the amount of $2,500 from the Carolinas Food Industry Council. Youngblood, a second-year recipient of the award, will return to Western Carolina University and major in music.

Each year, CFIC awards 30 scholarships to qualifying students. Applicants must be the child of a permanent, full-time employee of a retail, wholesale or supplier CFIC member company for at least one year, or students who have been an employed for at least six months part-time with a CFIC retail, wholesale or supplier member company. Youngblood is an employee of Ingles Supermarket in Fletcher.

Hendersonville High School Alumni Association Heritage Scholarship recipients announced

The Henderson County Education Foundation Inc. recently announced that five Henderson County high school graduates have been awarded a total of $9,000 in scholarships sponsored by Hunter Automotive Group.

The scholarships, awarded to students who excelled academically and displayed outstanding leadership, moral character and citizenship, provided $2,000 to one graduate at four Henderson County high schools and $1,000 to a graduate of Balfour Education Center.

Scholarship recipients were: Christopher Greene of Balfour Education Center, who plans to attend Blue Ridge Community College; Zack Henderson from East Henderson High, who will attend Western Carolina University; Anne Huntley of Hendersonville High, who will attend the University of North Carolina-Wilmington; Georgianna Souther of North Henderson High, who will attend University of North Carolina- Asheville; and Rachel Shoemaker from West Henderson High, who will attend the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.

During the 2013-14 school year, the foundation will award 51 scholarships totaling $140,590.

Each year, the Hendersonville High School Alumni Association Board provides scholarships for graduating seniors who apply to the HHSAA Heritage Scholarship.

<p>Sparks Memorial Scholarship recipient named</p><p>The Henderson County Education Foundation Inc. has announced that Karen Fernandez, a recent graduate of Hendersonville High, is the recipient of the Connie and Ricky Sparks Memorial Scholarship for the 2013-14 academic year.</p><p>Fernandez will receive a $3,500 scholarship each year for four years, totaling $14,000, to attend Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, where she plans to pursue a nursing degree.</p><p>In November 2007, Connie Sparks and her son, Ricky Sparks, were killed during a home invasion. Soon after, Connie Sparks' three remaining children — Brenda McCleerey, Jim Sparks and the Rev. David Sparks — started the scholarship program in their family members' memory. Fernandez is the sixth scholarship recipient. All recipients are graduates of Hendersonville High, in honor of Ricky Sparks, whose favorite team was the Bearcats.</p><p>Carolinas Food Industry Council awards scholarship</p><p>Cari Youngblood of Fletcher was awarded the Everett and Trudy Suddreth Scholarship in the amount of $2,500 from the Carolinas Food Industry Council. Youngblood, a second-year recipient of the award, will return to Western Carolina University and major in music.</p><p>Each year, CFIC awards 30 scholarships to qualifying students. Applicants must be the child of a permanent, full-time employee of a retail, wholesale or supplier CFIC member company for at least one year, or students who have been an employed for at least six months part-time with a CFIC retail, wholesale or supplier member company. Youngblood is an employee of Ingles Supermarket in Fletcher.</p><p>Hendersonville High School Alumni Association Heritage Scholarship recipients announced</p><p></p><p>This year, $1,000 scholarships were granted to 32 graduating seniors: Natosha Ash, Sarah Boyette, Margaret Butler, Christopher Chavez, Jessica Chotiner, Hailey Cook, Elena Durvas, Karen Fernandez, Matthew Green, Sarah Gudger, Kyle Hall, Abie Harris, Karleigh Holt, Anna Huntley, Dylan Kallenbach, Hailey Kater, Andrew Legg, Kasey Lowery, Catherine McCrary, Hannah Michels, Brice Molton, Matthew Parce, Morgan Reed, Enrique Rios Zuniga, Grant Rivers, Ann Ramey Schwab, Michael Silvia, Abigail Simpson, Cherish Stephens-Vickers, Jeremiah Thorn, Aaliyah Waddell and Ashley Young.</p><p>Hunter Automotive, HCEF award scholarship</p><p>The Henderson County Education Foundation Inc. recently announced that five Henderson County high school graduates have been awarded a total of $9,000 in scholarships sponsored by Hunter Automotive Group.</p><p>The scholarships, awarded to students who excelled academically and displayed outstanding leadership, moral character and citizenship, provided $2,000 to one graduate at four Henderson County high schools and $1,000 to a graduate of Balfour Education Center.</p><p>Scholarship recipients were: Christopher Greene of Balfour Education Center, who plans to attend Blue Ridge Community College; Zack Henderson from East Henderson High, who will attend Western Carolina University; Anne Huntley of Hendersonville High, who will attend the University of North Carolina-Wilmington; Georgianna Souther of North Henderson High, who will attend University of North Carolina- Asheville; and Rachel Shoemaker from West Henderson High, who will attend the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.</p><p>During the 2013-14 school year, the foundation will award 51 scholarships totaling $140,590.</p><p>Each year, the Hendersonville High School Alumni Association Board provides scholarships for graduating seniors who apply to the HHSAA Heritage Scholarship.</p>